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Awix (3310 KP) rated Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader in Books

Oct 10, 2019  
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
James Luceno | 2005 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fair to middling Star Wars tie-in novel, dealing with the aftermath of Episode III. For a novel named after Vader with his mush all over the cover, much of the novel deals with Palpatine (which was fine by me) and much with a band of rather bland fugitive Jedi (which unfortunately wasn't). Vader himself doesn't turn up until well into the book, giving it a slightly lopsided feel; the new characters aren't as interesting as the ones from the movies.

Luceno writes quite capably and the book does have a certain Star Warsy feel to it; some of the cameos from well-known characters do feel a bit laboriously contrived, though, and it almost feels as though it's pandering to that desire to have every last detail of the galaxy far, far away's history explained in detail. More seriously, it never feels like it gets a grip on Anakin/Vader as a character in the middle of a psychological transformation - at least not to the point that you really care about it. Easy to read, some good bits, but nowhere near the standard of (say) Matthew Stover's Episode III novelisation.
  
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Dean (6927 KP) rated Total Recall (2012) in Movies

Feb 7, 2018  
Total Recall (2012)
Total Recall (2012)
2012 | Action, Sci-Fi
7
5.8 (20 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Good Sfx (1 more)
Good cast
A very decent film in it's own right, and no it's not a straight remake! If you watch the first film again today it sure does look dated now. The main theme or plot is similar but put into a different context and setting altogether. The technology you see in the film was very interesting as well and there is plenty of action and very good SFX. It has a few nods towards the old film but seems to borrow elements from a number of Sci-Fi films including Blade Runner, especially for the look of the city. Even Star Wars Attack of the clones, Robocop. Throw in Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale, it's not a bad way to treat your eyes for 2 hours!
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Black Panther (2018) in Movies

Feb 13, 2018 (Updated Feb 14, 2018)  
Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther (2018)
2018 | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
8
8.3 (281 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Top-tier Marvel superhero movie is essentially diversity wish-fulfilment, revealing the existence of a secret sci-fi African kingdom with technology from Star Wars and soundtrack from The Lion King, but disguises this supremely well with solid script, first class action, and charismatic performances.

New king (and part-time superhero) must come to the throne, cope with parental issues, deal with old enemy and malevolent would-be usurper. Contains some very interesting and subversive ideas about culture and colonialism; doesn't overdo this, of course. Chadwick Boseman radiates nobility and cool as BP, Andy Serkis has too much fun as ridiculously evil villain Klaw, nice support from Martin Freeman as token white sidekick/comic relief (nice to see a bit of diversity in the casting, guys). Marvel continue to do very little wrong.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Flash Gordon (1980) in Movies

Feb 12, 2018  
Flash Gordon (1980)
Flash Gordon (1980)
1980 | Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
9
8.1 (26 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Post-Star Wars high-camp reimagining of the famous Alex Raymond sci-fi comic strip. Ming the Merciless, Emperor of the planet Mongo, terrorises the Earth; a mad scientist, a football player and a travel agent rocket themselves into space in an attempt to make him knock it off.

One of those movies where the ostensible leads are the least well-known people in it - everyone else has a great time overacting: the gold medal goes to Brian Blessed, who steals the entire movie as Vultan, Prince of the Hawk People. Visually lavish, with a strong script, lots of well-staged action for younger viewers, and tongue-in-cheek jokes aplenty for older people who ought to know better. Point knocked off for some inappropriately nasty violence; put straight back on again for Queen's soundtrack.
  
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Andy K (10823 KP) Feb 12, 2018

One of my faves!
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David McK (3791 KP) rated Star Wars, Vol. 3: Rebel Jail in Books

Jan 28, 2019  
Star Wars, Vol. 3: Rebel Jail
Star Wars, Vol. 3: Rebel Jail
Jason Aaron | 2016 | Comics & Graphic Novels
6
7.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Vol 3 in Marvel's new 'main' Star Wars stories (as opposed to those headlined by a single character), which starts with an James Bond style story set on Coruscant before heading back to the main characters of Han, Luke and Leia, who are off on separate missions - Han and Luke to get supplies for the Rebellion (capital 'R'), while Leia (and Sana) transport a high-value prisoner to the maximum security Rebel Jail of the title.

As this is set between Ep IV and V, we know that nothing major is going to happen to any of the main characters (Luke, Leia, Han), although this does - fianlly - provide a reason why Leia calls Hans a 'Scruffy Nerf-herder' in The Empire Strikes Back

In short: not bad, but not brilliant either.